Which schools are strongest in the Arts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:beauvoir has wonderful art and music teachers

Well, perhaps. Take a closer look at the art work at Beauvoir - what the children produce is wonderful but it is all the same! So while that is great for boosting the self esteem of the kids (and probably the parents) with no creativity or talent but for the child with artistic ability and the desire to express themselves through art, making identical flower pots in the shape of the national cathedral must be very stiffling.

[Anonymous]

Our daughter is at NCS. LOVE the art program... it has grest funding and the projects are creative and high quality. Not sure how this continues into MS and US but the LS experience has been wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do GDS and Sidwell compare with each other and with Lowell in terms of being a good fit for creative children?

Firstly, I would like to point out that I went to each of these three schools.

Lowell had great art, and I am still amazed at how much and how cool the art was. GDS definitely has more of an emphasis on art than Sidwell, and if you walk down the hallways at GDS, you will see the artwork of the whole class with many students being fabulous, whereas at Sidwell, the teachers pick and choose which art they want to put up. Lowell and GDS are definitely more artistic, and each of their art programs last through high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do GDS and Sidwell compare with each other and with Lowell in terms of being a good fit for creative children?

Firstly, I would like to point out that I went to each of these three schools.

Lowell had great art, and I am still amazed at how much and how cool the art was. GDS definitely has more of an emphasis on art than Sidwell, and if you walk down the hallways at GDS, you will see the artwork of the whole class with many students being fabulous, whereas at Sidwell, the teachers pick and choose which art they want to put up. Lowell and GDS are definitely more artistic, and each of their art programs last through high school.

PP, you personally attended Lowell, GDS, and Sidwell as a student?

[Anonymous]

During our tour of Beauvoir we observed an art class of students who looked to be around 8-9 years old. They were listening to Gregorian chants, while sitting at tables and working on pastel drawings of a vase of silk flowers.

All the other parents on the tour were nodding their heads and were duly impressed, while I was quietly horrified.

While I think that it was meditative, there was not "art" in process.

This class was reminiscent of some sort of institutional group therapy scene from a bad '70's movie on mental institutions. Except all the children were beautiful and the girls wore giant hair bows.

Not my, ahem, cup of tea.

[Anonymous]

WES is extremely strong in the visual arts starting at a very young age. It is one of the true highlights of the school. We knew it was strong before we attended, but never knew how much it would shape our children. While music is decent, I would not say a strength at early levels. Not sure on older levels. I'd encourage you to take a tour and see the art.

[Anonymous]

Stone Ridge has an excellent music program and a wonderful art teacher. The girls get a double period for art to really get a chance to work on a project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our tour of Beauvoir we observed an art class of students who looked to be around 8-9 years old. They were listening to Gregorian chants, while sitting at tables and working on pastel drawings of a vase of silk flowers.

All the other parents on the tour were nodding their heads and were duly impressed, while I was quietly horrified.

While I think that it was meditative, there was not "art" in process.

Why is this not art? Do you have to be jumping up and down and slinging paint to be doing art?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During our tour of Beauvoir we observed an art class of students who looked to be around 8-9 years old. They were listening to Gregorian chants, while sitting at tables and working on pastel drawings of a vase of silk flowers.

All the other parents on the tour were nodding their heads and were duly impressed, while I was quietly horrified.

While I think that it was meditative, there was not "art" in process.

This class was reminiscent of some sort of institutional group therapy scene from a bad '70's movie on mental institutions. Except all the children were beautiful and the girls wore giant hair bows.

Not my, ahem, cup of tea.

This is so funny; the art teacher at NPS just received an art educator of the year award (can't remember from who, but it was pretty heavy-hitting). The music program is also wonderful.

[Anonymous]

I second WES for the visual arts -- not so much for music and drama.